Diagnostic instrument



A. s. HARRIS, DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-24. 1920.

1,846,200. Patented y 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- Ft'tozyey A. S. HARRIS.

DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.24. 1920.

1,346,200. Patent-ea July 13,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/; y ey to?" UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALBERT S. HARRIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed January 24, 1920. Serial No. 353,780.

To all 10 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT S. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Tm- )rovements in Diagnostic Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surgical apparatus, particularly to diagnostic instruments for the examination of the ear, nose, or eye, and has for its object the provision of a novel device of this character which is adapted to be inserted into the cavity to be examined and which is provided with illuminating means whereby a beam 01 light may be thrown into the cavity or into the eye to illuminate the parts so that an accurate examination may be made.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which is provided with a removable and revoluble cover provided with a magnifying lens and further provided with a hole through which an instrument may be inserted for any desired purpose, the hole being closable by a pivoted shutter.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which includes a ham dle and the instrument proper, the handle having a socket into which the shank of the instrument proper is fitted and both the shank and the handle being formed with novelly constructed contact members which interengage whereby current may be led to the incandescent lamp constituting the illuminating means.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character in which the handle is provided with a novel form of rheostat structure whereby the intensity of the light may be varied by varying the strength of the current through the interposition of varying resistance in the current.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly etlicient and durable in use, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illus' trated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the com plete device,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the handle,

Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the instrument proper with the cover removed,

Fig. 1- is a longitudinal sectional view through the auriscope proper,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the cover thereof,

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cover,

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is an end view of the handle,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the connection of the shank within the handle,

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view 011 the line 1()--l0 of Fig.9,and

Fig. 11 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the metallic portion of the handle showing the mounting for the slide of the rheostat.

Referring more'particularly to the drawings, the numeral 15 designates the handle of the device which is cylindrical in form and within which is contained a dry cell 16, this handle being of the construction commonly used in flash lights of the vest pocket type. The handle has a detachableend 17 to permit insertion of the cell therein. It is believed that the details of the connection of this detachable cap are unnecessary to a proper understanding of the present invention. The other end of the handle 15 is open and has secured therein a plug 18 of insulating material such as hard rubber or fiber. This plug has a bore within which is located a metal sleeve 19 which is cylindrical in shape and whichhas a portion at one side adjacent its open end reduced and formed to provide a resilient tongue 20 having its extremity formed with a depression 21, for a purpose to be described.

Extending centrally through the plug 18 is a metal core 22 which constitutes a contact and this core has its inner end adapted to be engaged by one terminal 23 of the dry cell which has its other terminal 24- contactterminal connected with the sleeve 19, as

shown at 27. The coil of wire 26 is traveled over by a spring carried by the underside of a slide 29 movable longitudinally of the handle15and having a spring guide 30 extending through a slot 31 in the handle. The resistance wire 26 is of the ordinary insulatedvariety and the insulation is rubbed off atthe line of contact of the spring finger 28. It will be apparent that the position of the spring finger 28 with respect to the successive convolutions of the wire 26 will determine the amount of resistance interposed between the cell and the incandescent llght to be hereinafter described. When the slide 29 is at its fully retracted position it will be observed that the spring finger 28 is out of engagement entirely with the wire 26 and merely engages a portion of the inner end of the plug 18 so that the spring finger also constitutes a cut-off switch.

The auriscope proper comprises a cylin drical shell 32 which is open at both ends and from one side of which extends an angularly arranged shank 3.3. A tubular member 34 is connected with the inner wall of the shell 32 opposite the shank. 33 and has its free end portion formed with a threaded socket 35. Secured within and insulated from the tube 34 is a metallic contact 36 embedded within insulation 37 and engageable by a contact 38 at the end of the threaded stem 39 formed on the incandescent lamp 40 at the end of which is disposed a fish-eye lens 41 and within which is located an incandescentfilament, not shown. The structure of this incandescent lamp is ordinary and no details thereof need be described;

Disposed within the shank 33 is a sleeve.

42 of insulating material within which is disposed a metal core 43 connected by a wire 44 with the contact 36. The shank 33is sl'idably'engageable within the metal sleeve 19 and the ends of the shank and the sleeve 42 are cut away along a diagonal line, as shown at 45, for conforming engagement with the'diagonal portions 25 of the metal core 22 and plug 18. The shank 33 is formed with'a peripheral groove 46 within 7 which is engageable the depression 21 at the end of the spring finger 20, previously de scribed for holding the shank securely in position and preventing any possible loose contact.

It'will be seen that'when the cell 16 is properly disposed within the'handle 15 with the 'contact'23 thereof engaging the end of the metal core 22, when the shank 33 is circuit.

slipped into the metal sleeve 19 until the diagonal ends of the core 43 and core 22 engage, the parts will be in position to efiect energization of the lamp. l/V hen the slide 29 is then moved and the finger'28 passes over the convolutions of the wire 26, current will pass from thecell terminal 23 through the core 22, core 43, wire 44, contact 36, lamp 40, metal tube34, metal shank 3'3, sleeve 19, wire 26, finger 28, to the casing or handle, whence it will return to the cell through the contact 24. The position of the finger 28 governs the brilliance of illumination by the lamp 40 as it varies the resistance in the Detachably connected'with the lower end of the shell 32 is a funnel-shaped member 47 which is adapted to be inserted within the ear or nose to be examined'and this funnelthe shape shown is merely for purpose of illustration. 7

Detachably connected with the'upper end of the shell 32 is a cap 51 which telescopically engages within the shell and which has a knurled or milled flange 52 by means of which it may be conveniently handled. The

cap 51 has formed therein a circular hole 53 through which any desired instrument may be inserted for working upon the ear, eye, or nose. The cap 51 is also provided with another hole within which is located a magnifying lens 54. In some instances it is desired that the hole 53 be closed and in orderf to accomplish this I provide a shutter 55 of segmental shape against the underside of the cap 51 and mounted on'a post 56 which ex- ,tends through the cap and which has its upper orouter end handle 57 p I In theme of the device itwill be seen that when the funnel-shaped'member 47 is inserted within the nose or ear it will tend to distend the same so as to facilitate examination. The operator moves the slide 29 to close the circuit through the lamp 41 and a bright ray of light will be directed into the organ to be inspected. The magnifying lens 54 is of advantage for obvious reasons. When necessary or desirable the operator may open the shutter 55 whereupon any necessary 7 instrument may be inserted through the hole 53 for operating upon the parts of the organ. In some instances it is necessary to inflate the organ or to pump in a" liquid or spray and to take care of this contingency I provide a nipple 58 which exprovided with a lateral tends from one side of the shell 32 and upon nected with an inflating device or syringe which may be engaged a rubber tube conor upon which a bulb may be engaged.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and yet highly efficient diagnostic instrument adapted for use upon different organs and by means of which a thorough examination may be quickly and easily made. It will also be apparent that the cap 51 being rotatable,may be disposed at any desired position so as to bring the lens 54; and hole 53 at any desired points with respect to the center of the shell 32. It will further be obvious that by means of the rheostat structure the intensity of the light may be quickly and easily regulated.

While I have shown and described the handle as containing a dry cell for energizing the incandescent bulb, it is quite obvious that use may be made of a remotely located battery or any other source of current in which event the handle 15 would be greatly simplified, it being, however, a feature of my invention that at all times I contemplate making use of the sliding connection and the diagonally cut away contact members.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell, a shank extending from one side thereof and adapted for connection with a handle, and a funnelshaped member connected with the lower end of theshell; a cover for the upper end of said shell telescopically engageable therein and removable therefrom, said cover being rotatable with respect to the shell and provided with a pair of holes, a magnifying lens within one of said holes, a shutter pivoted upon the underside of the cover for covering and uncovering the other hole, and a handle connected with said shutter and disposed upon the top of the cover.

2. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having at one end a funnel-shaped member adapted for insertion within a cavity to be examined, a shank extending from one side of said shell, a tubular member within the shell and connected therewith at the point of juncture of the shank, an incandescent bulb carried by the tubular member, a handle provided in one end with a socket, a metallic contact member located within and insulated from said shank and connected with one terminal of the incandescent bulb, and a contact member disposed within said socket and insulated from the handle and adapted for engagement by said first named contact, saidsccond named contact being adapted for connection with a source of current.

8. A device of the character described comprisinga cylindrical shell having at one end a funnel-shaped member adapted for inscrtion within a cavity to be examined, a shank extending from one side of said shell, a tubular member within the shell and connected therewith at the point of juncture of the shank, an incandescent bulb carried by the tubular member, a handle provided in one end with a socket, a metallic contact member located withirr and insulated from said shank and connected with one terminal of the incandescent bulb, and a contact member disposed within said socket and insulated from the handle and adapted for engagement by said first named contact, said second named contact being adapted for connection with a source of current, the end of the shank and contact therein being diagonally cut away and the contact within the handle being diagonally cut away for conforming engagement by the first named contact member.

4. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical shell having at one end a funnel-shaped member adapted for insertion within a cavity to be examined, a shank extending from one side of said shell, a tubular member within the shell and connected therewith at the point of juncture of the shank, an incandescent bulb carried by the tubular member, a handle provided in one end with a socket, a metallic contact member located within and insulated from said shank and connected with one terminal of the incandescent bulb, and a contact member disposed within said socket and insulated from the handle and adapted for engagement by said first named contact, said second named contact being adapted for connection with a source of current, and means for preventing withdrawal of the shank from the socket comprising a resilient tongue mounted within the socket and having its free end formed with a depressed portion and the shank having a peripheral groove receiving said depressed portion.

5. A device of the character described comprising a shell member having illuminating means therein, a shank extending from one side of said shell member, a metallic core disposed within and insulated from said shank and connected with said illuminating means, a handle, a plug of insulating material in one end thereof provided with a bore, a metallic sleeve disposed within said bore and adapted to receive said shank, a metallic core within said plug spaced from said sleeve and adapted for engagement by said first named core, means carried by said i Wire upon thenin ner end of said plug and connected with said sleeve, said handle being adapted for connection'with one terminal of a source of current and said core being adaptedfor connection With the other terminal of the source of current; a slide mounted for longitudinal movement upon the handle, and a spring finger carried by the slide andriding overv said coil of vWire whereby to vary the resistance of current 10 signature.

ALBERT s. HARRIS 

